Chapter 3

She tried to stay busy getting ready, or at least look busy, so no one would notice how distracted she was, waiting for the inevitable. It nagged at her a little that she felt her stomach in knots more over running into the girl Hastings than the cute boy coming to escort her. Could anyone blame her though after everything that just happened?

She had gotten ready as quickly as she could, trying to look as pretty and together as she could. That was totally for Sebastian, of course.

"Hey Liv!" The voice was familiar but strange and it seemed to make all the hairs on her body stand up like the spectators of a soccer game doing the wave. She turned around forcing a nervous smile that suddenly softened into a very genuine one upon meeting the very familiar green eyes smiling back at her, and she wondered if the change was noticeable.

"Hey-" She was interrupted with a very enthusiastic hug, arms wrapping around and encasing her and setting off a typical Sebastian-enduced flutter in her chest that she felt shame for feeling again, from her.

Viola pulled away and stared into Olivia's eyes, looking like she was about to say so many things, so many things that Olivia just now realized she was dying to hear… instead she shifted gears clearly in her mind, and told her, casually, she looked beautiful. Olivia let out the hope in a breath and thanked her for the compliment. Both girls seemed to note that their arms were still attached, left over from sliding apart halfway from their earlier embrace, and it felt very much like they were both holding on to a roller coaster, but it was hard to tell who was being taken for a ride. Neither let go. Viola finally spoke, "So do you need any help getting ready? Hair? Makeup? I mean, not that you need help, obviously, you're gorgeous and you know what you're doing, obviously- I said obviously already and I think I'm starting to ramble! Do you need help? Oh my gosh I'm sorry I'm only asking because I don't think I'm even going out there anymore tonight and I'm trying to stay busy and not be a total idiot since I'm here and just-" As she was throwing her hands up and running out of coherent things to say, Olivia stopped her by grabbing her hands, squeezing them to get her attention, and telling her she could help her finish her makeup. She didn't need it, but the poor rambling brunette did. The real Sebastian didn't seem the type to ramble like Viola did, and she just now realized that if she lost it, she would miss it.

. . . . .

"He still could show you know." Olivia said to try and comfort her friend who was gently brushing powder across her nose.

"You didn't see his face." She responded, as Olivia searched the girl's eyes, though they wouldn't meet hers. They were interrupted first by Paul and then by Cheryl, and despite Olivia's and Paul's attempts at cheering her up, Viola turned and disappeared down the hall. Moments later the real Sebastian showed up out of breath with a sweet smile stretched across his face, and Olivia couldn't help but return one. They shared a slightly awkward hug and he handed her a single red rose.

"Aww, this is so sweet!" She took the rose then went up onto her toes to hug him quickly. As she separated from him she lifted the petals to brush against her lips and nose and breathed in softly and her eyes fluttered closed. Sebastian watched all the movements closely and made a mental note to consider this inspiration for new lyrics.

"Where were you? Your sister was back here for a bit." Olivia asked.

"Oh I was helping move some tables and chairs that weren't in the right place, as always seems to happen last minute when Cheryl is stressing. Sorry I kept you waiting, Vi was supposed to let you know I'd be right in." Olivia twirled the single rose around between her fingers as she replied, "She must've forgotten. She's a little distracted today with the whole Duke thing."

"Right. I think she's been freaking out about that all day." Olivia slumped her shoulders and frowned and Sebastian started trying to figure out a way to change the mood.

"Look, he's a dude, he'll just need some time. She's freaking out but it all kinda makes sense, I mean the guy just found out that his roommate, one of the guys he's been closest with, for the past two weeks, is actually a girl. Like, they were friends and teammates, he probably confided in her about stuff, and got used to her being one person when she's kinda, entirely another. I'd be freaked out too and need a minute, I mean wouldn't you?" Sebastian genuinely didn't realize who he was asking this question to. Olivia stared at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to figure it out.

"Shit." He said and then covered his eyes with his hand. He heard Olivia giggle in the darkness and pulled his fingers apart slowly to peek at the girl, to find her smiling pitifully at him.

"I'm sorry, that should have been obvious."

"It's really okay." She interrupted. "I know."

"Actually how are you so laid back about this with Vi? You're not… mad at her?" Olivia didn't actually know how to answer that honestly, so she answered diplomatically.

"I'm fine. It's not about me, and it wasn't about Duke, she just didn't think of the innocent bystanders of her Viola conquest," she laughed, "but what she did was courageous and passionate," Olivia looked around the room before continuing, "and admirable, really. How many people would go to such lengths for what they cared about, at the expense of their reputation too?" Olivia realized she had worked through some of her feelings as the words came out of her mouth. She really did admire Viola, and wondered if it would be possible to stay mad at such a heroine. Sebastian looked down at her with his own admiring gaze for a moment before he breathed out, "Wow. You really are kind of an angel." The startlingly genuine compliment brought her out of her thoughts and her eyes shot up to meet his and she gave him a shy smile.

"I mean, technically I also did the whole courageous and passionate thing when I secretly went to Europe for my band." He shrugged and looked up at the ceiling as he crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. Olivia scoffed playfully, as she tilted her head down and raised one eyebrow as she looked up at him and replied, "So the Hastings are a brave and passionate bunch, got it."

Their moment was interrupted as they were all being called and ushered to the front of the hall towards the stage entrances. Sebastian held out his arm for Olivia to take, and the girl in front of her turned and passed her a small bouquet. She took one then the other, and they slowly filed into place and heard Cheryl's voice welcome the guests and go into an overly dramatic speech that likely no one in the audience would want to sit through, save for a few, like her parents. Olivia looked up and down the hall and didn't see any sign of Viola. She sighed telling herself that it wasn't her job to worry about her whereabouts, and after a few moments, heard the first debutante announced. As they started to move slowly forward, she saw Viola come flying down the hall laughing with Duke not far behind, coming to a stop to wait for her. Olivia separated from Sebastian to her side of the stage but kept watching for Viola, who had run back to the dressing room. She turned to look at Duke, who walked over behind Sebastian and shook his hand. He was smiling. Her chest tightened. Looks like he couldn't stay mad at her either.